Australia’s Tai Tuivasa says he got “a hiding” in his UFC heavyweight fight with Russia’s Sergei Pavlovich in the United States.
Pavlovich recorded his fifth straight first round stoppage win, accounting for Tuivasa in less than a minute in a brutal display of power.
Pavlovich improved his record to 18-1 with the one-sided victory.
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“In this sport you’re either giving the hiding or getting one,” Tuivasa wrote on Instagram.
“Annnnnnnd I got one last night.
“I’ll be back to fight another day. Need some good family time for me and you all will see me again.”
In a separate post, Tuivasa said he was on the back foot almost immediately.
“@Sergio_Pavlovich got me first, rocked me hard, couldn’t recover,” he wrote.
“Wow what a crowd … I didn’t get to put on a show and a shoey tonight, my bad. I will be back.”
Commentator Daniel Cormier said the win highlighted the gulf between the two fighters.
“That’s what I mean, he (Pavlovich) has so much belief in his power that he’s willing to just throw caution to the wind,” Cormier said.
“It is amazing to watch him and his approach. Look at the face of Tuivasa. A jab took him down and then Pavlovich swarms. Tuivasa tries to swing big and misses and Sergei makes him pay. Another Sergei Pavlovich washout. Unbelievable.”
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